Making an XP bootable cd

Hey everyone, I'm having problems making a bootable XP installation cd. I have all of the other files so i could install while in windows but i cannot get the cd to boot on startup. I'm at a real loss here so if anyone could help me i would be very greatful. Thanks

 

How are you burning the CD? As an "image file"? If the original files are in ISO format then you want to burn them as an image file in Imgburn or Nero or similar burning software.

Is you PC set to boot from CD first? Try hitting F2 or Del immediately after restarting during the manufacturer/POST screen to enter BIOS and look for Boot Order. Verify that it is set to CD before HD.

 

If you have the installation files from a Windows XP install disc and are looking to use them to make your own installation disc, this may help:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=415

However, if you have an image file you need to follow Sach2's instructions.

 

Hey thanks for the replies. I have a couple ISO images and I've tried buring them with nero 9 using the data CD option(after the iso was extracted), the cd(iso)option, and the cd(boot) option. When I tried extracting from the iso and burning all the files in the compilation it didnt work either. And yes i am booting from the cd drive. When i use the cd boot option it boots up but it goes straight to a dos prompt that says "DrDosA:\" and i tried going to the d: (my cd drive) opening the directory and running setup.exe but then it tells me that i cant run that in dos mode. I dont have the original XP CD. Trust me i wish i did. I've wasted tons of CD and DVDs trying different methods. This turned out alot more difficult that i had imagined. Again, thanks for the replies.

 

Just to make sure that you are burning the ISO properly (I don't have Nero installed on this PC right now so I can't go through the options you used) try downloading ImgBurn and choose "Write Image File to Disc". On the line that says "Please select File.." click the first icon and Browse to your full XP installation ISO (should be close to 700mb and don't extract it)and select Open. Put a blank CD in the CDROM and then click the double icon at the bottom of the imgburn window to begin burning. Do you still get a DrDos> prompt? Are you sure you burning an XP installation CD?

 

Hey guys I finally got this to work. I got the first CD to boot correctlly but then when I got into setup it told me to put a windows xp sp3 cd in and i had alot of burnt xp cd's around so i found one that it accepted, but when the actual installation tried to run it said there was a missing file, amdide.sys. but this file was on the cd. So i had to copy the file to the "front" of the cd )where setup.exe and autorun are) and after a few tries I finally got it. So thanks alot for taking the time to reply to this post it really helped me out.:-D

 

I understand what you are saying. I am asking do you have a copy of xp bought from your fav computer store .I believe this was asked above could you please answer the quest.?? I am currious.

 

No did'nt have the original cd just a backup iso.

 

You might consider writing down the steps you took. It could help a few people.

 

Yeah i could but i need a place to upload the boot image. Can i do that here?